Course overview
Understanding how life adapts and thrives in different environments is essential for advancing planetary biology and appreciating the complex web of interactions that shape our planet’s ecosystems. The “Exploring Ecosystems: on-demand course“, organised by EMBL’s Science Education and Public Engagement team in partnership with Merck, introduces key ideas in planetary biology by exploring how scientists study life in coastal environments, from microbes to ecosystems. You will also discover practical and engaging ways to bring these topics into the classroom and help students understand how living things interact and adapt.
This free online course will take up around 12 hours to complete. Participants can join at any time and progress through the course material at their convenience. Upon completion, participants can earn a certificate of attendance by completing a short feedback questionnaire.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for formal and informal educators, including teacher trainers and educators in training. It is also suitable for science professionals and anyone interested in learning more about planetary biology.
Learning format
The course content is divided into two sections. Please note that you are free to design your learning path, by accessing content as per your preference and interest.
The science section includes pre-recorded lectures on planetary biology, a recorded Zoom Q&A session with the speakers and an additional collection of scientific resources.
The teaching section offers an EMBL game-based teaching resource and an additional collection of teaching resources.
The course workload is designed around ‘recommended‘ content, including pre-recorded lectures and pedagogical materials. The time commitment may vary depending on your interests and engagement with the materials.
What will you learn in this course?
By the end of this course, you will:
- Broaden your understanding of how coastal and marine research contributes to planetary biology
- Gain insight into how scientists combine fieldwork and molecular approaches to study biodiversity and adaptation
- Familiarise yourself with “Nexus Island”, a game-based teaching resource for exploring ecosystems in the classroom
- Expand your teaching toolkit with accessible materials for introducing planetary biology topics
How to access the course?
These course materials are available on our EMBL eCampus learning platform. Please note that the platform is freely accessible and free of charge. After clicking the "Enter course" button, you will be redirected to the EMBL eCampus website. If you are a first-time user, you will need to create an account. If you are already an EMBL eCampus user, you can access the course directly after logging in.
We hope to see you there!